Category Archives: Rum

Anyone looking to get their Mardi Gras party started – and quickly – knows that it only takes a few of New Orleans’ signature Hurricane cocktail to do the trick. And if you’ve ever had one you can attest to the fact that they’re difficult to resist. The rum and juice combine into some kind of adult version of Hawaiian Punch with a fancy garnish. The creation of this passion fruit-flavored libation is credited to New Orleans tavern owner Pat O’Brien who poured the concoction into hurricane-lamp-shaped glasses to give away to sailors in the ’40’s.

If you ever get the chance to visit New Orleans during Mardi Gras, you’ll find the drink all over town – mostly in plastic cups because although drinking is allowed in the streets, glass containers are not. But there’s nothing better than a Hurricane in it’s traditional vessel, so grab a few at BevMo, Target or Bed Bath & Beyond and get ready to celebrate just like your fellow revelers in the French Quarters.

This Mardi Gras, I decided to take a page out of Pat O’Brien’s cocktail invention book and have a little fun in the Gidget’s Cocktail Lounge Test Kitchen. Truth be told, I couldn’t find any passion fruit juice and decided it was time to come up with a little Gidget twist on the traditional Hurricane. I’ve blind tested these at a few parties and everyone loves my version so I’m confident you’ll be happy with the results. Since I’m all about the classics, I’ve also provided the traditional recipe below which is just as lovely and fun to make.

COCKTAIL HACKSI realize that not every home bar comes stocked with fun spirits such as Galliano, so if you don’t have this sweet herbal Italian liqueur in your bar, no worries. As a quick cocktail hack, you can sub-out the Galliano for a tiny dash (less than 1/8 teaspoon) of Anise Extract. I picked this up at my local grocery store and found that it works fine. Also, the “Hawaii’s Own” frozen juice is my go-to frozen favorite (it’s just so easy!), but if you find Passion Fruit Nectar you can use 2 oz. of that in the Gidget’s Twisted Hurricane recipe instead of the frozen concentrate.

New Orleans is a really, really fun place to visit but if you can’t head to the Big Easy this year, either of these recipes will help you party in Mardi Gras style right from home. Grab some party beads and have fun just like you’re in the French Quarters!

Looking for a big game cocktail to serve at your Super Bowl party? The San Francisco Bay Area is host to this epic 50 year NFL celebration, so we thought we’d take some inspiration from the City by the Bay and it’s storied cocktail history to bring you a local cocktail that everyone will love! The city’s Barbary Coast played host to many a gold miner looking to strike it rich during the Gold Rush in the mid-1800’s and bartenders in the area used the exotic ingredients coming into San Francisco’s port to invent new drinks. There are at least 5 cocktails known to have been invented in San Francisco Bay Area bars.

The list of cocktails reads much like a favorite bar menu and includes such classics as the Martini (invented in Martinez, north of San Francisco), Pisco Punch and the ever-famous Mai Tai. It’s true! This legend of a cocktail was created by Victor Bergeron, aka Trader Vic. Trader Vic’s original bar was in Oakland, a Bay Area city. And when it comes right down to it, who doesn’t love a Mai Tai?! This cocktail is so darn tasty and is the perfect crowd pleaser for a party like the Super Bowl. To play up the 50-year NFL celebration we’re going to add a touch of gold and twist the name a bit, but the deliciousness of this drink will not disappoint.

You’ll score extra points with your guests when you serve up this cocktail!

THE EXTRA POINTNo paper umbrellas or tiki mugs needed here – go simple with some mint and a glittering gold rim for the perfect Super Bowl 50 party drink.

HOW TO MAKE IT :: Add ice to shaker. Add all liquid ingredients. Shake it like you mean it! You need to really blend those ingredients together, so shake for about a minute. Pour shaker contents into cocktail glass without straining. Garnish with lime wheel and mint sprig.

Start making a little party history for yourself and serve this pitcher-style with a line up of pre-garnished glasses and you’ll be “cheering” all the way into the 4th quarter! Simply multiply the ingredients for the number of guests you’ll be serving, keep the mixture chilled until needed and place the ice in a bucket next to your glasses. Guests can make their own cocktails and you can enjoy the game.

If you’re in charge of hosting a SB50 viewing party this year and need some amazing food, check out our TheGoodStuff article HERE. We collaborated with TheGoodStuff to create a cocktail party worthy of this big event so check it out because we’ve got your menu all planned out for you!

Ghosts, goblins, witches, and werewolves — Halloween is filled with plenty of spooky and bewitching spectacles to make the evening a thrilling event. It’s also a treat to hang out with friends and have a ghoulishly delightful time engaging in a little cocktail mischief. If you’re planning a wicked Halloween party the following cocktails are sure to create an unforgettable All Hallow’s Eve event. No matter what your Halloween guests’ favorite poison is, I’ve got you covered with these cocktails — all guaranteed to raise spirits at your monster mash.

HOW TO MAKE IT ::On a small plate, mix together granulated sugar, corn syrup, and 5-7 drops of red food coloring. Mix to combine and add more food coloring to get desired results. Dip glass rims into mixture briefly and hold glass horizontally to let excess syrup drip off rim. Place rimmed glasses in freezer until ready for use.
Combine remaining ingredients ingredients to an ice-filled shaker. Shake well and strain into rimmed cocktail glass

THE DEVIL’S CHOICE

What would Halloween be without a devilish twist? This wondrous, blood-red cocktail comes with a haunting punch of two kinds of rum and delicious pomegranate juice. Hell won’t freeze over if you make this your cocktail of choice!

HOW TO MAKE IT ::Pour 4 Tablespoons black sanding sugar on a small plate. Rub a lime wedge around the rim of each glass, then dip into sanding sugar. Add ice to glasses. Combine first 4 ingredients to an ice-filled shaker. Shake well and strain into rimmed glasses, leaving space at the top. Gently pour 1 oz. of dark rum onto each cocktail so it floats on top.

Everyone wants to host an epic holiday party, and the best way to get your party off to the right start this time of year is by serving drinks everyone loves. The holidays provide the opportunity to play with oodles of cinnamon, enjoy that frothy egg nog without guilt, and serve wine with a crystal ladle. Need I say more?

I created a list of holiday cocktails to engage guests at large parties or warm up a few close friends at a smaller celebration. No matter the size of your event, these recipes will fill your home with holiday cheer. Oh what fun it is to cocktail your way through the holidays!

Hot Buttered RumI believe rum has always been an important component of American holiday celebrations, so my primary cocktail tradition starts with a Hot Buttered Rum. I recommend you whip up a batch of batter to keep on hand through the holidays and make extras to give away as holiday gifts with a bottle of rum.

For each cocktail2 ounces aged rum {dark rum works fine}
Boiling water

HOW TO MAKE IT ::

In a mixing bowl, beat together softened butter, brown sugar, vanilla, and spices until well combined. Refrigerate in an airtight container. It’s best to make the batter at least 48 hours in advance of using, so the spices have an opportunity to mingle (batter will store for up to a month).

Remove batter from the refrigerator at least 6 hours prior to serving, to allow it to soften.

In a preheated mug, combine 2 heaping Tablespoons of batter with the rum.

Top each with boiling water and stir well to mix.

Serve with spoon or swizzle stick.

For a few other festive recipes, check out the article we wrote for TheGoodStuff and we’re sure they will fill your home with holiday cheer.

When the holiday season comes around, we can’t help but indulge in food and drink spiced with classic holiday flavors like gingerbread, peppermint, vanilla and the ever-sweet cinnamon. This time every year, drink manufacturers introduce their long-awaited seasonally spiced products. In order for you to take full advantage of these flavor wonders, we’ve found a number of holiday liquors that may help you to step away from that Pumpkin Spice Latte and embrace the flavors of December with a few delish cocktails! Three holiday liqueurs, eight cocktail choices. For a full list of cocktails visit The Good Stuff, and get your holiday imbibing started with the cocktail we created below. Oh, joyful yuletide!

THE QUEEN’S MENThe first gingerbread man is credited to Queen Elizabeth I, who knocked the socks off visiting dignitaries by presenting them with one baked in their own likeness. Cheers to all the Queen’s gingerbread-men!

HOW TO MAKE IT ::In an ice-filled cocktail shaker, add all ingredients. Shake well {shake it like you mean it!} and double strain mixture evenly between two cocktail glasses. Garnish each drink with a cinnamon stick.

After Thanksgiving dinner most people dive head first into a slice of pie. Tradition generally calls for pecan pie or pumpkin pie with a big dollop of whipped cream. This year we’ve decided to tempt you to skip that plate (or even add to it) and dive into these yummy Thanksgiving dessert cocktails instead. There’s no better way to unwind from your Thanksgiving holiday efforts, and we think making a cocktail happens to be a lot easier (and faster) than baking a pie. And it’s also a great way to perk you up after all that nap-inducing turkey!

To check out all 6 dessert recipes, visit The Good Stuff online magazine HERE. We created a G+LaR original cocktail for the article, happily named AUNTIES APPLE PIE MARTINI. We figured that just about everyone has an Auntie who makes the best apple pie at Thanksgiving. We’ve given that classic pie an upgrade with this delicate, refined cocktail. The spicy flavors of Rum compliment the carmel apple and honey ingredients for a drink even your Auntie will enjoy!

HOW TO MAKE IT ::
In an ice-filled cocktail shaker, add all ingredients. Shake well {shake it like you mean it!} and strain mixture evenly between two cocktail glasses. For garnish, on a small plate mix granulated sugar with cinnamon until combined. On another plate pour small amount of maple syrup – about 1 tablespoon. Cut thin slices from apple and run the skin side through maple syrup then coat with cinnamon sugar mixture. Garnish each drink with apple slice.

Here at Gidget + LaRue we’ve decided to show Tuesday a little love for the fun day of the week it can be, so last week we launched TiKi TUESDAY! For this week’s cocktail we’re diving headfirst into the ZOMBIE, a mind numbingly delish TiKi drink! The ZOMBIE is a drink with a bit of mystery behind it, so researching the recipe yields a wide range of results. Blame the drinking, but cocktail history is often hazy. So it’s no surprise that the “real” recipe for this cocktail ~ and even its exact ingredients ~ vary depending on whom you ask. Purportedly created by Don the Beachcomber to revive a hungover businessman, the recipe has been twisted in countless ways and some bars limit ZOMBIE drinks to only 2 per customer. We decided to go with a recipe that wouldn’t leave you feeling like the living dead and didn’t require anything fancy other than a few base spirits and fresh citrus fruit. Bring on the fun and let’s get our TiKi on ~ ZOMBIE…stat!

HOW TO MAKE IT ::
Combine all liquid ingredients + crushed ice in a blender. Pulse contents for a few seconds, just to combine ingredients. Pour into glass and garnish with lime wedge or wheel and mint sprig. Simple, fun and delish!

* NOTE on garnishes ::
To elevate a drink from being just another “drink” and turn it into a real TiKi cocktail, spend a little time to create the perfect garnish. Garnishes don’t need to be complicated but they can add that extra personality to your cocktail that sets it off from other drinks. So have some fun with pineapple wedges, cherries, star fruit and go for the paper umbrella! We used the top leaves from a pineapple for a little flare. Keep in mind that garnishes should be made in advance so they can be quickly added. That final TiKi embellishment will make people smile even before they’ve taken their first sip!

Most days of the week have a bit of a reputation. Nobody really likes a Monday, everyone loves a Friday and we have Hump Day Wednesday and now Throwback Thursday. Here at Gidget + LaRue we’ve decided to take over Tuesday. Give Tuesday a little love and respect for the fun day of the week it can be. Throughout the summer we’re going to help you see Tuesdays in a different light by launching TiKi TUESDAY!

To get started we are launching with an iconic TiKi cocktail, the MAI TAI. The creation of the Mai Tai happened in Oakland, CA in 1944 by Victor Bergeron, otherwise known as Trader Vic. The name of the drink was unexpectedly introduced by a group of guests from Tahiti, when they exclaimed “Mai Tai – Roa Ae”, which means “Out of This World – The Best”. And that is how the Mai Tai was born and that’s how we’re kicking off TiKi Tuesday. Let’s get shakin’!

HOW TO MAKE IT ::Add ice to shaker. Add all liquid ingredients. Shake it like you mean it! You need to really blend those ingredients together, so shake for about a minute. Pour shaker contents into cocktail glass without straining. Garnish with lime wedge or wheel and mint sprig. Make sure to give the mint sprig a good slap on the palm of your hand before adding to the cocktail to release the aroma and flavor.

A quick tip about making an original Mai Tai :: When made properly, a Mai Tai has a deep amber hue because it’s the color of the Rum that should dominate the drink, not the sweeteners. In other words, a true original Mai Tai shouldn’t be orange.

* NOTE :: There are so many excellent Aged Rums out there on the market and many are worth adding to your home bar. If you don’t have an aged Rum handy and have a hankering for a good Mai Tai, you can always swap out 1 oz each of Gold Rum + Dark Rum in place of the Aged Rum.

Celebrate Father’s Day this year by spending some time with your Dad and what a better way to create new memories than with a classic, homemade cocktail? Celebrate the contribution your father has made to your life with this refreshing drink – The DARK & STORMY. This cocktail is a true original much like your Pops and uses Rum as its base spirit. We like to think of this as the drink of adventurers. Pirates were the original adventurers and they loved their Rum, right? This is a cocktail that can keep up with Fathers and Grandfathers alike so go on an adventure this Father’s Day and enjoy a delish cocktail in the process. Yo-ho-ho!

HOW TO MAKE IT ::
Fill a highball glass with cubed ice. Pour in Rum and top with chilled ginger beer. Using barspoon, stir gently until well mixed. Garnish with a lime wedge or wheel. Serve with straw and enjoy!

*NOTE ::
You could be thinking that ginger ale could be substituted for ginger beer with no ill effect. While you can make a good Dark & Stormy with ginger ale you definitely can’t make a great one. The flavors of the two beverages are simply much too different. Ginger ale is sweet, not particularly tart and only mildly gingery. When you mix this with dark rum you end up with a cocktail that is quite sweet, has little ginger flavor and no sourness. You can perk things up a bit by squeezing two or three lime wedges into the drink for some added sour. On the other hand, ginger beer is less sweet, has a higher citrus tang and is very gingery. This flavor profile allows the ginger beer to compliment the deep, sweet rum as opposed to get smothered by it. We love Ginger People ginger beer. Go that extra mile and use ginger beer – once you start sipping you’ll be changed forever. Don’t let summer pass by without giving it a go.

Give yourself a whole new level of mojo with this lovely summer libation

Everywhere we look we’re surrounded by the beautiful fruits of summer. Strawberries call out from the supermarket aisle just waiting to be added to cereal. Raspberries gather like little red gems ready to be mixed into a smoothie. We’re here to help you step away from that standard-issue fruit salad and see these delicious summer fruits in a completely different light–in a cocktail! So grab that shaker and some ice and let’s capture the tastes of summer with these four fresh summer fruit cocktails.

Let’s jump into this by grabbing some juicy strawberries. This first drink is great when you’re in the mood for something refreshing and fruity. Perfect for sharing with friends, the Backyard Mojo pairs strawberries with lemons and mint to create a sweetened, summer fruit mojito.

HOW TO MAKE IT ::In cocktail shaker, muddle lemon wedges with the strawberries and mint leaves. Muddle for at least a minute to release flavors. Add ice to shaker then add the Rum, Limoncello, lemon juice and Simple Syrup. You need to really blend those ingredients together, so “shake it like you mean it” for at least a minute or more.
Add crushed ice to each of your glasses, filling completely to the top. Strain cocktail into ice-filled glasses.
Garnish each glass with strawberry half and mint sprig.

For 3 more delicious Summer fruit cocktails, check out the recipes we designed for our cocktail supporter – TheGoodStuff. You can find them HERE.

As we head into March and Mardi Gras, we wanted to help you celebrate Fat Tuesday with a classic Mardi Gras cocktail ~ THE HURRICANE. The creation of this passion fruit-flavored libation is credited to New Orleans tavern owner Pat O’Brien who poured the concoction into hurricane-lamp-shaped glasses to give away to sailors. Here’s a taste-tested Gidget + LaRue twist on the classic. Our recipe is enough for 2 drinks because we don’t like to drink alone!

++ Here’s your Gidget + LaRue “make it easy” tip ++
If you don’t have Galliano in your bar, no worries. We sub-ed out a tiny dash (less than 1/8 teaspoon) of Anise Extract (from Safeway!) and it worked great. Also, the “Hawaii’s Own” juice is great, but if you’ve got Passion Fruit Nectar around (we couldn’t find it easily), use 2 oz. of that instead. I couldn’t find it and we like the frozen juice because it’s EASY!